Defensive tackle reveals via Twitter intent to sign with Titans

Shaun Smith spent just one season with the Kansas City Chiefs during which he crafted a reputation as one of the more outspoken, interesting players in that locker room.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that it was Smith, himself, a 6-foot-2, 325-pound defensive tackle who spread the word Friday morning that he would play for the Tennessee Titans this season.

The seventh-year veteran out of South Carolina broke the news via Twitter shortly after 7 a.m. Roughly an hour, and a dozen Tweets later, he said he wanted to hear from Titans fans and wrote “it’s time to win the division.”

Free agents cannot sign contracts with new teams until Friday afternoon and cannot practice for almost a week, yet he revealed in a later morning Tweet he was preparing for a flight to Nashville.

His addition came less than 24 hours after the team released veteran Tony Brown and two others on the defensive line. His size was consistent with first-year defensive coordinator Jerry Gray’s expressed desire to have bigger players on the defensive line.

Smith, who will turn 30 during training camp, has started just 37 times in 79 career appearances with four teams. He helped the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and the AFC West title last fall, which led to the first playoff appearance of his career. He previously spent time with New Orleans, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

He played all 16 games in 2010, a first for him, and made 10 starts, one short of his career-high.

2 Comments on this post:

By:MusicCity615 on 7/29/11 at 11:58

Sorry to see Tony Brown go, but welcome to Tennessee Shaun Smith! It is time to win the division!!!

By:tn.native on 7/29/11 at 1:51

This season will mark many changes for the Titans...from the top down, and I'm looking forward to seeing them take the field. There will be a lot of talent out there and I hope the chemistry between the coaching staff and the players will be positive and professional. Many changes have been made and yet a strong core remains. Having an experienced quarterback can allow the development of Locker. It will all depend on the coaching style of MM as he begins his first season.